<i>This is a story about a bank robbery, an apartment viewing, and a hostage drama. But even more it's a story about idiots. But perhaps not only that.</i>

Possibly the worst bank robber ever tries to rob a bank only to discover it's moneyless. Then, while trying to escape, ends up in the middle of an apartment showing with probably the worst hostages ever. But sometimes the worst situations can turn out to have very unexpected outcomes.

No one does quirky but likeable characters or the human condition better than Fredrik Backman and that is nowhere more true than in his latest, Anxious People. He deals with some very important issues like suicide, hopelessness, and mental health with humour but always with kindness and empathy. This is a wonderful story full of great characters who will entertain and frustrate the reader in equal measures but will always make you root for them. it is well-written, uplifting, and, at times, even laugh-out-loud funny but always always insightful into humanity's foibles. Loved it.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

My most anticipated book of the year..I received an early copy from both netgalley and libro.fm but I have put off reading this.. Why? I get so nervous when I read a book that I"m so excited about. I just want it to be perfect. 

What happens when a bank robber, who doesn't want to be a bank robber- ends up taking a group of strangers hostage at an open house? What happens when all these strangers start to unravel?

Backman's writing is so special, so unique. I have yet to encounter another writer that has his same way of storytelling. It is subtle and beautiful. He peels back and the story and the characters slowly and so in depth. I really find few faults in Backman's books. 

This book was so relatable, it was about being human and making mistakes. Every character brought what was needed to the story. I really loved this book.

As I started reading this book, my first by Backman, I didn't know if I was going to understand the hype. It felt like a slow start, I was a little confused, and I found all the characters annoying. I really am not sure where it happened when I started falling in love with this band of quirky characters. Maybe it was when the ladies were drinking wine in the closet together, but I finally saw the depth of them all and what made them who they were. I finished the book really appreciating the differences we all have and that sometimes you need to learn the backstory of people to fully comprehend their personality and life choices. Definitely a book that will stick with me!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I havent read too many books by Fredrik but this one was great. It had a lot of random funny moments. His dry humor makes the story great. It was a fun and interesting read. It was interesting to learn who the real "bank robber" was and how all these people fit into this story. I recommend this to everyone and looking forward to reading others by this author!

The best novel from Frederik Backman in some time, He really pumps these high-quality novels out fast, which is impressive. I love the heart and humanity that goes into his writing and character development. This was another wonderful, sad, and funny book which seems to be what he's good at.,

I just love Author Fredrik Backman's books because he is such a good story teller and his books are so well written. However, I had a really hard time getting into this book and it was a real effort to finish it. I was very disappointed in this book especially after I saw to many rave reviews.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book that so many people loved.in exchange for an honest review. I do look forward to Author Backman's next book.

I like Fredrik Backman books because they use real life situations and he shows everyone's point of view. This was a situation that I would never think of going to an open house and then being held hostage! What! I was confused for awhile because there were a lot of characters but once I got into reading it, I started to identify with some of the characters and that helped. I'm glad that the characters started to become friends and I hope that if this did happen in real life that the people involved would be there for each other instead of just thinking about themselves. I'm glad that it ended the way it did.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

Backman’s latest will make you laugh. The quirky characters are eccentric and yet they will elicit great fondness as readers discern their true nature. The writing sparkles with their unique voices. This is a character-driven novel with little action. The book is about an attempted bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation. It sounds serious but it’s the wackiest crime in history, with a group of people the author often refers to as idiots. (Backman sometimes inserts statements directly to the reader as commentary on the narrative.) But don’t let the surface crazy deter you from reading a book that has a hidden intensity.

As the characters reveal themselves, their strange behaviors become more understandable. They also become more lovable and memorable. Set in a small town in Sweden, there are numerous references to Stockholmers and they are often another source of humor. What Backman is able to do is open a window to human frailty and foibles. His prose is evocative at times, despite the strange happenings. Lovers of his books will find this another moving portrayal of humanity, warts and all.

A bank robbery gone wrong? Sassy hostages? Yes, please!
Working at the library, I see a lot of the same books circulating and recirculating, being put on hold, barely landing on a shelf (say it with me: that Crawdad book *insert eye roll here*). One of those books lately has been Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman. One of his previous books, A Man Called Ove was also one of my patron favorites, because it was about a lovable curmudgeon.

And oh how I love a curmudgeon.


As I pack all my books…for an upcoming move!
I received an ARC of this book from the folks at Netgalley, but I also chose it as a pick for Book of the Month (is there any greater spoil than being able to read a book on a Kindle AND the actual hardcover? Methinks not). I took it on a trip up to North Bend, WA and it was the perfect light read for a mental vacation.

So let’s talk about what this book is about: without giving away too much, it’s a REAL sassy story, told in multiple perspectives, of a bank robbery gone wrong. Really, really wrong. Like, the bank robber tried to rob a cashless bank, wrong. When the robber tries to make their escape, they end up crashing an apartment viewing. And let’s just say, it gets very interesting.

Aside from the darker themes of this book, I found Anxious People one of the funniest I’ve read in a while. The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it was so long and too rambling at times, and Backman could’ve chopped out 50 pages and had a very strong book. But it was enjoyable, and a nice escape from ~2020~.

I recommend this book to anyone that:

Loves a good clusterfuck of heists gone wrong
Multiple character stories that intertwine
Has ever gone to a house viewing and wondered what the other people were really up to
Hates realtors
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Oh, Fredrik Backman. Just when I start to grow tired of your monologue, you say something poignant and touching and make connections between the characters and hit me with all the feels.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's a story about idiots. A bridge, a bank robbery that wasn't really a robbery, and a hostage situation with the worst hostages that results in the disappearance of the criminal. And it is awesome.

I love everything that Fredrik Backman puts to paper. This book was excellent and might be a tie with Beartown for my favorite of his works. The writing in this book is nothing short of magnificent. Seriously...it's just brilliant. There is a fantastic mix of humor and realism, with a touch of sarcasm. It's blunt and to the point. I laughed throughout my read, but also rode the rollercoaster of human emotions. In true Backman fashion, he manages to capture humanity so freaking well. I just loved this so much.

The character work in this novel is the best. There is a pile of characters, but it wasn't hard at all to remember who was who because Backman makes them all so distinct, unique, and memorable. There were characters who I loved, there were ones I disliked as human beings, and there were a few who made me want to rip my hair out. The whole experience was incredibly introspective and very emotional, dissecting and evaluating the ways we interact and influence one another. Gah. It's just one of those hand to heart books.

Beautiful, sarcastic, quippy, and smart. A trainwreck of people and situation that was just the best disaster and made my reading life so much better. This is definitely reread material. It will be a permanent fixture on my shelf and I can't wait to get back to it again. Easily one of my favorite reads of 2020.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

There is a deep and beautiful message within these pages. At times I thought the writing was a bit chaotic, the rambling here and there was bothering me but after a while I found myself enjoying the quirkyness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Backman truly is a talented writer and his stories stay with me! #anxiouspeople #fredrikbackman #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booklover #booksofinstagram #netgalley #booklife #bookreviewer #booksofinstagram #bookclubs #bookclubbook #ilovereading #bookaholic #bookaddict #betweenthechapters  #goodreads #100bookchallenge
#readacrossinstagram #readingnook #botm

There were a few ARCs I got early in the pandemic that somehow became foci for my covid stress. This was one of them. I didn't start it for a long time, because I was viscerally afraid that it couldn't be as good as all the author's other books. It's so good! Well-deserved stars!

When I finished it, I immediately turned back to the front, to reread it with plot reveals in mind. Only a few pages in, I froze again. Surely it couldn't be as good on the second read-through. Paralyzed with indecision, this sat on my "reading" list for literal months while I didn't read a word.

The writing is beautiful, the characters are a bit silly but still relevant, and the important information is revealed with exact precision. I will read this again for real, when I am in a happy place.

I really, really loved this book and I will be teaching it in my literature class in spring 2021. I believe it will teach my students a great deal about structure and characterizations. I honestly don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one! I never knew where the writer was going to take me. There were so many twists and turns to this piece and I couldn't put it down.

In particular, I think this book is a great way for educators (particularly of college and high school) to teach point-of-view. The narrator moves in and out of different perspectives in a very unique way, one that continuously surprised me.

I will say that the ending felt a little drawn out and I wish this would have ended about 20 pages earlier.

Overall, amazing, unique structure with wild, wonderful characterization that constantly took me by surprise. The text asks a lot of its readers. I will be recommending it to everyone!

If you’re a fan of Backman’s writing style, then pick up Anxious People ASAP. His eloquent and thought-provoking writing is back again in this book, somehow always finding a way to shine a light on how we interpret strangers through our own lens, then he fills in the gaps with information we’re missing.

I enjoyed the premise of Anxious People- just the title speaks loudly to me. Ultimately, the book examines the lengths we will go to for those we care about, and just how far the kindness of strangers can also carry us.

Fredrik Backman is the KING and my favorite author - full stop. I have read and adored every one of his books and would recommend all of them. My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove are in my top 2 favorite books ever. ⁣
⁣
I love Fredrik's unique way of looking at the world. His characters are all well developed and full of color. I love how distinct they are and how easily I can picture everyone and in this story, the rabbit, realtor, and bank robber in particular. This book had a large focus on mental health and I loved how the characters were connected, almost Love Actually-esque. Each character had their own struggles and it was brilliant how well developed they were.

I absolutely adored this book. It is different than his backlist but I love his humor and I laughed so much. I loved how the story was told with the bank robber gone wrong mixed with stories about each of the hostages. I loved all the special moments and how the different hostages connected and what the apartment meant to each of them. I could go on and on. This will easily make my list of top books for the year and may take the top spot.

A man called Ove introduced me to Backman and I’ve fell in love with his ability to develop characters that hook you into their world and stories!

Idiots, man. Idiots everywhere...and I liked it.

Shortest Summary Ever: There’s a bank robber and a hostage situation. 2 cops - a father and son trying to end the stand off. A therapist. But the hostage situation is not what the book is truly about - it’s about people. Fallible, honest and dishonest, funny and sad, loved and unloved - people, even the idiots.

Thoughts: This is my first Backman novel and I’m impressed with his witticisms and dead-on characterizations. This book was the 2020 away from it all that I have been craving. A bumbled bank robbery turns into the strangest hostage situation ever - a cast of characters one could only throw together from a pot luck table. (PS this would make a cool play!) The characters are likable, laughable, terrible and altogether - valuable because they are PEOPLE. That’s what made this novel - a look at people we would despise and some who just make us laugh or cry - emotion, feeling... but not in a touchy-feely wind-beneath-my-wings way. More of a “hey I know that dude. What a jerk!” Real people. Who sometimes surprise you in real ways.

You know THAT guy and you know HER but do you know WHY they are the PEOPLE they are?

Enjoy the journey.

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.

Genre: contemporary fiction

Recommend to: Those looking for different, quirky, a little weird.

Not recommended to: Mainstream bookers or those seeking belly laughs... it’s not quite hilarious.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me happy I have no home-hunting to do right now.

Within a few minutes of starting this book, I was laughing out loud and a few chapters later, I had tears streaming down my face!! That’s how Fredrik Backman’s writing style always affects me and that’s what keeps bringing me back! Be prepared for all the feels with this book!

I have read all of what Backman has published so far, so there was no question in my mind that I was going to read this book too. After knowing that, I think what intrigued me the most was the title of the book!! I can relate to anxious people as I’m sure many of us can, especially this year.

The story is a bit crazy. It’s about a failed bank robbery that turns into an apartment hostage situation!! Sound a little over the top? It is, in the best possible way. There are many different anxious characters in this book to get to know. I usually wouldn’t like so many characters in one story, but Backman has a way of writing true-to-life characters that makes it easy for the reader to follow and relate to. By the end of the book, you will be rooting for all of them!!

I love how a bunch of very different people were thrown into a bad situation and the way they coped with it was to get to know and understand each other’s anxieties, in turn becoming friends. Because it’s a story about friendships, we all see a little bit of ourselves in the characters. If you are a big fan of quotes, you will have plenty to bullet journal with this one!!

One of my favorite quotes in the book was “The ones that make you laugh last a lifetime.” It’s referring to people and it really spoke to me. After all, laughter is the best medicine and if we have that in our lives, our lives are full. There are quotes of life lessons scattered throughout the book making it even more special.

For Backman fans, this is a no-brainer, read it!! If you are new to Backman, be prepared to read a book like none other you have ever read before. It will be one that sticks with you for a lifetime! It has made my top 10 for 2020 list! You’ll either love it or hate it!! I’m betting on you loving it!!

Thank you to @NetGalley, @atriabooks and @backmansk for providing me an Advanced Reader Copy of Anxious People in exchange for my unbiased review.